Fight over Mikaben’s estate moves from social media to Florida court

CLEARWATER, Fla.—- A heated dispute over the property and mental property of late Haitian music icon Michael “Mikaben” Benjamin has escalated, transferring from social media debates to the Florida courts. The dispute, now the topic of a proper courtroom movement, highlights a deepening rift between Mikaben’s widow, Vanessa Fanfan, and his brother, Lionel “Ti Lion” Benjamin Jr., as they combat for management over the artist’s legacy.

The authorized battle, now enjoying out in a Florida courtroom, facilities on who ought to management Mikaben’s mental property, royalties, and property funds. His brother, Lionel Benjamin Jr., argues that these property belong to Mika Ben Productions, Inc., an organization he co-founded with Mikaben, slightly than to his widow, Vanessa Fanfan. Lionel claims that Vanessa improperly assumed management of firm accounts, redirected funds, and filed copyright and trademark claims in her identify—strikes he says violate each U.S. and Haitian regulation. In the meantime, Vanessa, as Mikaben’s surviving partner, has asserted her rights over the property, together with the music catalog and funds raised by way of a GoFundMe marketing campaign following his loss of life. The case has sparked intense debate throughout the Haitian music trade and amongst followers, elevating broader questions on artist estates, company possession, and inheritance rights.

Documents first obtained by The Haitian Instances present that Lionel Benjamin Jr. filed a movement on Feb. 11 in Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit Courtroom to take away the property’s court-appointed co-personal representatives and reclaim management of Mikaben’s emblems and copyrights.

Sources conversant in the dispute, who requested anonymity as a result of they aren’t licensed spokespersons for the household, instructed The Haitian Instances that Lionel claims the improper administration of Mikaben’s property by his widow shortly after his loss of life has resulted in monetary losses and misallocation of funds belonging to Mika Ben Productions, Inc., an organization integrated in Delaware in 2009 and co-owned together with his late brother. 

A number of paperwork hooked up as displays to the movement reveal a sequence of exchanges between representatives of each side after Vanessa Fanfan briefly assumed management of the corporate’s accounts and property in 2023. These paperwork additionally spotlight actions from the previous yr, together with a courtroom abstract of administration proceedings in favor of Vanessa, which was later reversed after Lionel filed a movement to vacate in August 2023, claiming she misused abstract letters of administration to improperly acquire management of property and accounts belonging to Mika Ben Productions, Inc. 

 “The spouse and the youngsters could be entitled to all songs recorded by the artist if his productions weren’t finished beneath the umbrella of a company not solely owned by him,” the sources mentioned. “As a result of the corporate is a 50-50 break up between the 2 brothers, Mikaben’s beneficiaries are solely entitled to 50% of its financial pursuits.”

In keeping with the courtroom submitting, Lionel is just not difficult Vanessa’s rights as Mikaben’s surviving partner. As a substitute, he seeks reduction from the courtroom to maintain his firm’s accounts out of the Mikaben widow’s attain. 

A abstract of the important thing accusations embrace:

• Mismanagement of company funds: Lionel claims Vanessa redirected earnings from Mika Ben Productions, Inc.’s accounts into her private accounts. He additionally argues that this disadvantaged the property and Mikaben’s kids of their rightful shares.
• GoFundMe funds in query: Following Mikaben’s loss of life, his widow launched a GoFundMe campaign, “Mika’s Legacy,” which raised $246,650. Lionel alleges these funds had been by no means transferred to the property for correct distributions, as required by a courtroom order.
• Management over music royalties: Lionel contends Vanessa improperly assumed management of royalty accounts (together with TuneCore, CD Child, and DistroKid) tied to Mikaben’s music however belong to Mika Ben Productions, Inc. He claims she withdrew practically $27,000 from company accounts and deposited the cash into her private account.
• Disputed copyright and trademark filings: Vanessa is accused of submitting false copyright and trademark claims for Mikaben’s music and model, asserting sole possession regardless of the property belonging to Mika Ben Productions, Inc., sources mentioned.

Background and considerations over property administration

Mikaben, who died tragically after collapsing on stage instantly after a efficiency at a live performance with  Carimi in Paris, France, on October 15, 2022, at age 41, was a celebrated Haitian artist identified for mixing Konpa, Reggae and R&B. The son of legendary Haitian singer and revered entrepreneur Lionel “Père Noël” Benjamin, Mikaben’s affect spanned many years and reached audiences worldwide, together with his profession kicking off in 1999. Following Mikaben’s loss of life, a tribute honoring his legacy has been paid by Haitian artists, members of the family and music followers to his reminiscence round Oct. 15 annually.

On the time of his loss of life, Mikaben was survived by his spouse, Vanessa; his son, Gabriel; and his daughter, Maia. He additionally left his spouse pregnant with Leia, who was born shortly after. Other than his well-known father Père Noël, and brother and enterprise companion, Ti Lion, Mikaben’s reminiscence is cherished by his mom, Roseline, a famend psychologist and college professor in Haiti, and her sister, Mélodie, additionally a psychologist and singer.

Mikaben’s property features a precious music catalog, royalties and different mental property rights.

The movement alleges they:

• Didn’t make sure the GoFundMe funds had been correctly accounted for.
• Wrongfully claimed management over company property.
• Allowed Vanessa to retain property property that ought to have been distributed amongst all beneficiaries.

Vanessa Fanfan declined to remark when contacted by The Haitian Instances.

“I’m sorry, however I’ve no feedback on this matter for now,” she texted, deferring to her publicist for another remark.

The submitting cites Florida statutes §733.604(2) and §733.609, which outline the fiduciary duties of property representatives as neutral and restricted to the administration of somebody’s property, not a company. Lionel’s attorneys argue within the movement that the co-personal representatives have didn’t uphold these tasks.

Authorized dispute over Mikaben’s mental property

A key difficulty within the dispute is the possession and administration of Mikaben’s mental property. Lionel asserts that the grasp recordings and music compositions Mikaben created are property of Mika Ben Productions, Inc., not private property. He additional argues that Haitian copyright regulation governs these works, given Mikaben’s Haitian nationality and the place the works had been created.

Lionel’s movement challenges Vanessa’s latest makes an attempt to assert sole possession of those property in U.S. copyright and trademark filings. He argues that her actions violate each U.S. and Haitian regulation and contradict agreements Mikaben made throughout his lifetime.

Because the dispute escalates, Lionel is in search of a number of authorized treatments, together with:

• The fast removing of the co-personal representatives.
• The restoration of company accounts to Mika Ben Productions, Inc.
• An order requiring Vanessa to return funds withdrawn from company accounts.
• A courtroom injunction stopping additional interference in firm operations.
• The correct switch of GoFundMe funds to the property.

Broader implications of the dispute

The dispute has drawn important consideration within the Haitian music trade (HMI) and amongst Mikaben’s international fan base—many hope for a decision that honors his legacy and the long-held popularity of the Benjamins.

Because the authorized battle unfolds, the way forward for Mikaben’s property, mental property and creative contributions stays unsure. The courtroom proceedings in Florida will decide the destiny of his music catalog and whether or not his firm, Mika Ben Productions, Inc., retains management over his artistic work.

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